How is prostatitis diagnosed?

There are a number of tests which can be used to find out whether you have prostatitis. It can take some time to get a diagnosis - the symptoms of prostatitis can be similar to other problems such as urine infections, which can make it difficult to diagnose.

Your GP will ask you about your symptoms, and medical problems you have had in the past.  

The tests vary for the different types of prostatitis, but will include some of the following:

• a urine test to check for sign of infection
• a blood test
• a physical examination of your stomach area (abdomen)
• a physical examination of your prostate called a digital rectal examination (DRE), to feel for anything that’s unusual, and to check its size
• a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

For some tests, you might need to visit a doctor who specialises in urinary problems (a urologist) or a specialist nurse at the hospital.

You can read about how prostatitis is diagnosed in our booklet, Prostatitis: A guide to infection or inflammation of the prostate.